Transfusion Medicine—Opportunities?

Many of our readers are opportunity-minded, i.e. innovators looking for something to make better. And, there’s hardly a medical field that’s riper for innovation than blood technology. Two major blood suppliers—the American Red Cross and the American Association of Blood Banks—dominate the industry, but many “non-profit” hospitals collect donated blood and sell it to other hospitals. In all, blood banking is about a $4.5b business sector. Cord blood and stem cell harvesting are niches, but as this piece suggests the need for fresher, safer, and more effective blood products is there for the taking. MORE